Tool transporter



Aug. 5, 1952 c. E. LEPPER TOOL TRANSPORTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 3, 1948 3 Sheds-Sheet 2 -CH/1/FL55 LEPPE/f C E LEPPER TOQL TRANSPORTER Aug. 5, 1952 Flled May 3 1948 Aug. 5, 1952 c. EJLEPPER TOOL TRANSPORTER s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 3, 1948 Patented Aug. 5, 1952 TOOL TRANSPORTER Charles E. Lepper, Ojai, Calit, assignor to Baron v Manufacturing 00., Oxnard, Calif a corporation of California Application May 3,194 ;sa m am p The present invention relates to a mobile carrying or-transporting structure arranged to lift and transport, for example, heavy agricultural tools. such as heavy disk harrows and the like.

In transporting heavy equipment or tools in the field, it is desirable that they be transported easily and safely with equipment which is expensive, easily maintained and operated without requirement of much skill by a limited number of persons. In particular, it is desirable that the carrying device be so constructed that tipping of the carried tools is eliminated while being transported.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved mobile carrying device for achieving the above-mentioned desideratum.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved tool transporter'which is readily and easily balanced when carrying intended loads.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved tool transporter employing supporting chains or cables which are adapted to be connected at suitable points to the tion, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a mobile lifting and carrying device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the same taken in the direction indicated by the lines 2-2 in Figure 1 and includes in addition the novel wrench for rotating the tube upon which the cables are afiixedl Figure 3 is a view taken in the direction indicated by the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 4-4 and 55 of Figure 1.

..Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of g in Figure 1.

the'apparatus shown "in Figure 1 and discloses the manner in which the cable is attached to the removable tube shown therein.

. Figure 7 is a top'plan view of the device shown Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the device shown inFigure 1."-*-

Figure'9 is a view taken in the direction indicated by the line 9-9 and shows in addition the crank member mounted in operative position-for rotating the tube upon which the cables are mounted.

Figure 10 is a view similar to the view shown in Figure 9 but with the mechanism adjusted to lower the loads carried on the cables attached to the re'movabletube. I I Y Figure 11 is a sectional viewtaken substantially onthe line lI-ll of Figure 8. Figure 12 is a sectional view taken substantially on'the line 12-12 of'Figure 11-. v

Figure 13 is a view in perspective of the-novel wrench which is likewise shown. in Figures-2, 9,

a and 10 for rotating the tube upon which the cables are attached in opposite directions to thereby either raise or lower the cables with resp'ect'to the ground. Figure 14 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of a modified device embodying the present invention.

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the same, with some of the parts in section'and broken away to show internal construction.

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 16-46 of Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line ll--l'l. of Figure 15. V

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the .tcable attaching. means with elements in disassociated and exploded form. 1

Referring to the preferred device embodying the present invention in Figures l-through 15, inclusive, the transporter is formed of a pipe frame constituting a longitudinally extending pipe Ill bent forwardly and downwardly with the forward end having welded thereto a trailer hitch II, for conventional fastening to a vehicle, such as a tractor or automobile, the other end of the pipe I 0 being welded to one apex of the square coupling plate or box l2. The other three apexes are welded respectively to the tubular pipes l3, l4. and [5, the pipes l3 and I4 having an L-bend in them and each one of their lower ends being adapted to support a corresponding axle 13A, I4A upon which the ground-engaging wheels ll, I8 are mounted.

The other pipe l5 welded to the square coupling plate or box |2 has bonded at its rearmost end, as shown in Figures 7, 8, and 11, a spring-biased pawl member 20 adapted to releasably engage a co-operating ratchet member 2| on the longiably mounted on the tube 22 in the manner in'dicated in Figure 6. In Figure 6, onemendiofsthe cable 32 makes one complete turn on the tube-22 before passing downwardly through the diametrically opposite apertures 22A, 223 in the tube after which the cable 32 makes onecomplete turn around the tube 22. Each one of the endsof-the cable 32 has attached'thereto chains 32A, the free ends of which havemountedthereon, the

'It is apparent'that ltheheightof .one of the hooks .32B.may be conveniently adjusted with respect to the height of the other one ofithe hooks ,by pulling more .or. lessof. the cable 32,. as the case mayb'e throughthe apertures. 22A;..22B in the pipe '22. a This .adjustability is madewhen no weight-is applied t0thel1ooks32B andafter the .cables:32 are-moved so as';to produce no-binding action .on the tube 22 which binding action otherwise exists due to the individual turns-taken around the tube.

.'Ihe-other double-ended cables. 33, 34 each have chains or hooks attached -to-their freeends as;

direction of rotation of the tube-22. Thetube 22 iis normally prevented from rotatingin-accordance with the weight of the cables or weightsa'ttached -.'to ;the cables by the;pawl and ratohetjmechanism 20, 2| at the rearendof tube 22,.best-shown in ,pressureibetweenrpawl220sand wheel32'| .whereupon;the;pawl::is.ffree to move out .of engage- Figure 8.

.In Figure 8, the ,pawl member 520, which, has :limited' pivotal'movement on the :shaftAG-w'elded to the supporting tube I5, is springrbiased into en agement withthe ratchet 2| by. the'torque -;spring.4 I, having onezof its, ends-anchored. inthe shaft 40 and the other oneof its .ends,:in- Figure 8, engaging the pawl-20 to-pressitwinto engagement with the ratchet 2|. As showminijEigures 8, '11

.' and 12, a cotter; pin 43 passes through Jan;enlarged motion limiting slots-4. in the pawl, '20 and the ihole 545 through shaft "4!! and cooperates with such slot :44 toallow (only Ilimitedimovement .of

shaft 22: andiby 1 operating, suoh'wrenchfi inthc 'mannerdndicated hereinafter. v I InfFigure 13, the Wrench T5| has a circular :opening 52 at one end thereof .otdizime'ter .sIig'htly larger-than .the diameter of extension 150 so that it may freelyrotate thereon. The handle 1 portion 53 .hasa.shaft 54 extending. transversely ,perpendicular .toits apexon which'is pivotally mounted a vpawl member-.55 adapted to cooperate with the teeth on the ratchet wheel-2|. :Preferably, this pawl member 55 has extending there- 4 from a weighted handle member 55A to facilitate operation.

When it is desired to raise the cables 32, 33. 34 and the load fastened thereto, the wrench 5| is applied as indicated in Figure 9 with the pawl 55 pressed in engagement with the ratchet wheel 2| due to the gravity forces acting on the tweighted extension 55A.- tGounterclockwise rota- .tion of {the .wrench *5 I" produces corresponding counterclockwise movement of the ratchet wheel 2l, the spring biased pawl 20 preventing clockwise movement thereof and serving to relieve -sorne0 f the torque which would otherwise be exertedon thewrench 5 "In operation, the wrench 5| is rotated an angular: distanceislightly greater than the pitch .onrthe teeth of the reel 2| to thereby step the ratchetwheel and attached shaft 22 around in a series "of shoit strokes. When it is desired to lower the cables 32, 33, 34 with the load suspended thereby, the torquespring 4|.has its free end transposed from lthehto side of theipawl- 20 in Figures to the undersideof the same pawl20 in Figure 10. in .whichilatter. case, the .spring 4| .biases the pawlmember'Zfl out-of engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth. ,In .such-casefthe clockwise movement of .thea'a-tchet wheel"2| is .arrestedby thepawl member 255. I'Ihe operator allows the wrench 5| to ,pivot Lunder the influence of the torque .=pr esent .at-lthe ratchet wheel 2 .untilthe back side 55B of thepawliiengages the pawl Emember 20 to press it downwardly against the ratchet teeth of wheel '2|. In this latteryposition of pawl 20, it is effectiv zto-arrest further: clockwise. movement of the-ratchet wheel .2 itthen beingnecessary-that thepawl 20 be allowed to move outwardly again under the in- ;fluenee of cspring-4| beforethe wheel'2l may con- :tinueto rotate. :Such outward "movement of the ;paw1-men1be1"-20 results as the wrench 5| is rotated about the extension in ELQCIOUIXtGI'ClOCkwise direction. Such counterclockwise;rotation -.the;:gear 15, the gear.

;'of the wrench 5| rcausesgthe; pawl ,5'5' to engage the necessary succeeding tooth; z to'release the ment-under thelinfiuenceof the torque -.spring Thezwrenchr5lis then allowed :to move in the counterclockwise :direction :until it again cams ;.'down: the pawl; memberQ-ZD to repeat the sequence ofevents. ilt is'thus-apparent'that the :motion of the'twrenchl5l :in the lowering operation is confined to arelatively small angulardistance somewhat greater than thenngular disw JOYPCEpOHding "t e pltchzbe'tween the -adiacent teeth ozrthe wheel 2 -:In:the rmoiiified arrangement-shown -'in Fig- -,ures lfi-ithrough 18, inclusive, the tool trans- ;porterqhas. a'frame substantially .thesame as the fr-arneashown in rthetpreferred embodiment, but

:cables .extend through the whole framework and are movableinrnnison :by a 'dlffere'nt tyne of mechanism.

:Corresponding parts of the framein the two modifications shown therein have identical:referfence numerals.

In Figure, 16.:theforwardend:l0A of thepipe shaft 1| whose.,1en'ds are journaled for rotation in the bearings 12, 13. As shown in Figure 17, the lower end of theja'ck shaft'llihas'mounted thereon a bevel gear 14 which cooperates with 15 being rotatable upon rotating thehandle 16.

Shaft 18 extending perpendicular to the-axis of the pipe WA and journaled for rotation therein in a suitable bearing member has mounted thereon a gear and handle member I6 so that rotation of the handle member 16 produces a corresponding rotation of the jack shaft II. Such rotative movement imparted to shaft H results in longitudinal movement of the sleeve member 80 which is threaded on the shaft 1 I. In order to assure only rectilinear movement of the sleeve 80 without a rotational component, the sleeve has extending radially therefrom a guide projection 82 arranged to slide in the grooved guide member 83, the guide member 83 extending longitudinally to and within the pipe end IOA and being secured to the inner wall thereof. If desired, the projection 82 may have a roller 82A mounted thereon engageable in the groove 93A to minimize frictional forces.

Sleeve 80 also has depending radially therefrom the three integrally threaded lugs 90, 9|, 92 which serve respectively as a fastening element for the eyelets in the double ended cables 94, 95, 99. These cables are maintained in position by suitable washers 99, 99 and I00 which are held in place by the corresponding bolts I02, I03, I04 entering the tapped holes in abutments 90, 9|, 92 respectively to thereby maintain the eyelets of cable 94, 95, 99 in position. It is thus apparent that when the sleeve member 80 is moved, the double ended cables 94, 95, 99 are moved in unison.

One end 94A of the double ended cable 99 passes over the guide roller I20, over the guide roll I2I, through the horizontal portion of tube I4 to the L-bend therein at which point it passes over a third roller I22, and then passes downwardly through the vertical portion of tube I0. As indicated in Figure 14, a pair of chains are attached to the end of the cable, with the chains extending through diametrically opposite apertures in the tube I4. The rollers I20, I2I, I22 and the corresponding roller I23 are each journaled for rotation within and on the composite frame. The other end 9413 of the cable 94 extends over the guide roller 92, over the guide roller I24 and then downwardly and has a chain with a hook attached thereto. The second cable 95 has one of its ends 95A extending over the roller I and over the roller I24 Where it extends downwardly and has attached thereto a chain with a hook. The other end 953 of the cable pair 95 extends over the roller I20, over the roller I through the horizontal portion of tube I3, over the roller I23 in the bend of tube I3, down through the vertical portion of tube I3 and at its lower end is attached to a pair of chains having hooks attached to the ends thereof.

Both ends 96A and 96B of the double ended cable 96 pass in turn over the rollers I20 and I3] mounted at the rear of tube I5, then passes downwardly, and each has a chain with a hook attached thereto. Both ends 96A and 96B of the double ended cable 96 pass in turn over the rollers I20 and I3I mounted at the rear of tube I5, then passes downwardly and each has a chain with a hook attached thereto.

1. In a device of the character described, a

longitudinally extending centrally disposed frame member, a pair of L-shaped frame members each having one of their ends attached to the first frame member and each having their downwardly extending ends adapted to mount a ground engaging wheel, a plurality of spaced cables depending downwardly from the first frame member and supported thereby, and a mechanism mounted within said frame member including a rotatable screw element cooperating with a sleeve threaded thereon and attached to said cables, arranged to move all of said cables in unison upon rotation of said rotatable screw element, said screw element and said sleeve being disposed within said frame member and extending in the longitudinal direction of said frame member with an end of said screw element projecting therethrough for rotation. 2. An equipment carrier, comprising: a rigid tubular frame including a single longitudinal member having a horizontal portion and a downwardly inclined forward end, and a single pair of aligned cross members rigidly attached to said longitudinal member and terminating at their extremities in vertical legs, and a reinforcing structure of diamond form enveloping the junctures of said longitudinal and cross members to unite them in rigid relation; carrier wheels journaled directly under and substantially within the planes of the vertical legs of said cross members; a mechanism carried by said frame including a plurality of flexible tension elements for attachment to a load disposed between said wheels and common means for operating said elements to lift and suspend said load.

CHARLES E. LEPPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 258,124 Robbins May 16, 1882 966,062 "Swanson Aug. 2, 1910 1,285,059 Dahl Nov. 19, 1918 1,835,436 Shaw Dec. 8, 1931 2,240,564 Le Tourneau May 6, 1941 2,375,754 Ballinger May 15, 1945 2,451,236 Oeth Oct. 12, 1948 2,454,675 Showalter Nov. 23, 1948 

